A dog fecal sample is a small quantity of stool requested by a veterinarian to check the health of your pet’s gastrointestinal tract. This sample is a fundamental tool for detecting intestinal parasites, which are not always visible to the naked eye. Regular testing screens for common issues like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and protozoa such as Giardia and Coccidia. Accurate test results depend entirely on the quality and freshness of the sample provided to the clinic.
Proper Collection Techniques
Collect the sample immediately after your dog defecates, as stool left outside quickly degrades and can be compromised by insects or weather. The aim is to capture a piece that has not touched the ground or has minimal contact with grass or dirt.
Only a small amount is required for most diagnostic testing, typically a teaspoon-sized portion, which is approximately 1 to 2 grams of feces. You should use a clean, disposable collection tool, such as a plastic spoon or a simple plastic bag inverted over your hand. Transfer the collected stool into a clean, airtight container, like a small plastic tub or a specialized container provided by your veterinary office.
While avoiding all contaminants is ideal, a small amount of grass or soil clinging to the sample is usually acceptable for standard flotation tests. Once sealed, you must label the container clearly with your dog’s name and the exact date and time of collection.
Immediate Handling and Refrigeration
Refrigeration is necessary if you cannot deliver the sample to the clinic within a few hours of collection. Keeping the sample cool significantly slows the degradation rate of parasite eggs and prevents the rapid demise of delicate motile organisms like Giardia and Coccidia.
The ideal storage condition is a standard refrigerator temperature, generally between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. It is recommended to store the sample in a designated, separate refrigerator, or at least double-bagged and kept away from all human food items. Under no circumstances should the sample be frozen, as the ice crystals formed during the freezing process will rupture the cell walls of many parasites, making them structurally unrecognizable under a microscope.
The container itself should be non-absorbent and must have a tight-fitting, secure lid to prevent leakage and contamination. The consistent cool temperature maintains the integrity of the organisms, allowing the veterinary lab to accurately identify them through various testing methods.
Time Limits and Sample Integrity
The time elapsed between collection and testing directly affects the accuracy of the diagnostic results. For certain tests, such as a direct smear examination to find motile protozoa, the sample should ideally be examined within six to eight hours of collection.
Refrigeration can extend the viability of the sample, but even when chilled, the integrity of the contents degrades over time. Most veterinary laboratories recommend submitting a refrigerated sample within 12 to 24 hours of its collection. Beyond this 24-hour mark, the eggs of some parasites may begin to hatch, or the protozoan cysts may break down, leading to a potential false negative result during analysis.
The specific diagnostic test being run influences the maximum acceptable age of the sample. While flotation tests for the eggs of common worms may still yield results up to 48 hours after refrigeration, a sample older than 24 hours is generally considered suboptimal. Using a sample that is too old risks missing an actual infection, which could delay treatment and compromise your dog’s health.
Safe Transport to the Veterinary Clinic
Proper packaging for transport begins with placing the sealed, labeled container inside a secondary leak-proof bag, such as a zippered plastic bag. This secondary containment provides an extra layer of protection against accidental spills or contamination.
It is important to keep the sample cool during transit, especially if travel time is significant or if the weather is warm. Placing the double-bagged sample in a small, insulated container with an ice pack will help maintain the refrigerated temperature until it reaches the clinic. Minimizing temperature fluctuations prevents the accelerated degradation of the parasite structures.
Upon arrival, hand the sample directly to a staff member and confirm the collection time and date are clearly marked on the container.